Applied for a very run of the mill catsit, and the HO just replied asking if I could come meet them face to face. They have 2 reviews, I have 23.
I don’t want to dismiss the nerves I’m sure HO have around new people in their home, but does this seem a bit demanding? When I said I wasn’t available this week to do that, they didn’t even reply and I had to prompt them asking if this was a dealbreaker or if they’re still interested. They said they’re seeing if someone else can come meet them in person - I am guessing just to get approved.
Finding a running theme lately of flaky communication, and HO with some unreasonable expectations for unpaid sits.
We “missed out “ on a THS house sit with one cat because the (new to THS ) hosts wanted a sitter to come and meet the cat in person first . This wasn’t stated in the listing .
We had 20+ reviews at the time , they were brand new to THS. We knew their small village , having done house sits there in previous years and referred them to our 5 star reviews from their “neighbours “ in the village
As we would soon be on a sit in the area (one week after applying ) we were willing to meet up in person . We thought in this instance (hosts new to THS and without reviews ) it would be mutually beneficial for us to meet the hosts ,cat and see the home for ourselves. We let them know that we could come to visit them in person the following week.
Our application was declined as a sitter was willing to come and meet them sooner than we could.
If hosts get applications from sitters willing to do a pre- visit then I guess it’s not unreasonable. If they are struggling to get any applications then they may need to re- think .
It would depend how far from me they are. I had a sit where they wanted to leave me the key under the mat. I wanted to drive out there before the sit and be shown around and have questions answered if I had any. I also like to meet the PP and get a feel of them. So we all are different in our comfort area. I find I am more detailed orientated than some PP and usually have questions when shown around.
You told them you weren’t available that week but did you give them dates you were available? Or were you hoping that when you said you were not available they would say OK then, we will just leave the key for you. It sounds like if they meet a sitter in person they will go with them and are keeping you on the back burner if they are not comfortable with the ones they meet in person.
I would only do it when it is 10-20 km (maybe 30 km) from where I am at that moment.
And if I could combine it with a (mountain)bike trip or some grocery shopping or something.
In person meeting and experience the pet and house is always better then a video call.
And if I can combine it, it is a win-win.
So for context, the sit starts this weekend, so there were no more available dates prior to meet them.
But yes I prefer when HO have a lock box, or I am happy to come at the time they leave if they want to do an in person handover. I’ve also stayed the night before at HO.
So, these owners are not brand new to THS, and they need someone next weekend? And they expect that you are going to make time in the next few days to meet them in person?
Those expectations are pretty incredible. The timeline is too tight. They are lucky that someone nearby is available to help them next weekend (today is Monday).
People can always ask for what they want, whether you want to do it is up to you. If meeting in person before the sit doesn’t work for you, move on and find another sit No need to wait on them if they can’t answer a simple message.
I have met the host in person pre-sit a couple of times, in both cases I was in their location at another sit and it was no trouble for me to meet them.
I would not drive 10-30 km to do so, no, unless there was some bonus for me doing so - nice for me, not for them. I find it rather demanding and not the right vibe for an equal exchange.
Tbh I’m much more keen to meet HOs and pets ahead of confirmation- possibly due to some horror stories in this forum regarding dirty houses etc. so in my application I suggest meeting in person if possible and I think HOs really like this too. There’s no problem for a HO in a great location with easy pets to ask for what they want, it certainly limits the applicant pool but doesn’t make it impossible to find one sitter that suits them. Having x30 sits doesn’t trump a sitter willing to meet in person for these HOs.
I remember seeing a listing for a cat sit for one cat, which requested that only solo female sitters apply . It was an average home and location , single bed for the sitter , nothing spectacular and no special needs for the cats care were stated .
However the host also required that the sitter come to stay for several pre- sit overnight stays ( with the host present) so that the cat could get used to the sitter . That seemed very unreasonable to me .The listing was up for quite a while, showing no applications . I don’t know if they got any applications in the end .
But maybe it suited someone - that’s what THS is all about finding a good match .
For hosts not getting applications they need to either adjust their expectations or make alternative plans , but if it’s working and they are finding sitters who are happy to do pre- visits then that’s great .
If you’re willing to meet hosts in person before a sit, that’s rare, especially with short notice. If they’re bad communicators on top of it, most sitters would just write them off.
Running into a pattern of such hosts seems unusual, especially if you have good reviews. Maybe tighten how you decide which listings to pursue? Or if you’re just focused on popular locations, maybe hosts can afford to be demanding and that’s what you have to deal with as an applicant?
Well it’s the third sit application for that week, and the first HO just didn’t reply and left me on read for like a week , even after a polite nudge, so I withdrew.
Second app said on their profile they had free-parking (I need my car and parking, it’s on my profile)… They didn’t reply to my application message, just sent the THS invitation to sit. Luckily before accepting I checked and discovered you have to use visitor passes because it’s not free parking which they didn’t want to provide.
The HOs who want an in person visit are the third sit application for that week!
All their profiles were mixed in terms of how long they’ve been on here, amount of reviews. All pets were lowkey. I do try to thoroughly scan profiles for red flags before applying, as I’ve been here a few years and learned the ropes.
(Reply to Maggie8K’s post - there seems to be a glitch on the forum where this doesn’t show)
As we sit in a radius of about 30 miles in the summer we are very happy to meet hosts beforehand.
It’s reassuring for them to see what type of people we are and we get to meet the pets and have a look round the property. It also gives us an opportunity to drop massive hints about freezer space, empty fridge and hanging space.
We also like the idea that they leave their keys in a “safe” place and we arrive after they leave. It saves us having to sit through the drama of a family of four leaving for a two week holiday. The things we have seen and heard!
Yes, meeting before the sit commences is a worthwhile exercise if it can be done. No matter how many reviews either party has.
No need to wait on them if they can’t answer a simple message.